Clothes-line prop.



W. M. SMITH.

CLOTHES LINE PROP.

APPLICATION run) 0013, 1913.

1, 1 1 8,821. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Slum/wt m: NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTD-LITHOH .\.'.;nlNG m D UNITED STATESPATENT OFFIGEL WILLIAM M. SMITH, 0F WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO CHARLES H. MARTIN, 0F WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA. I

CLOTHES-LINE PROP.

Application filed October 3, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Woodward, in the county of WVoodward and State of Oklahoma,have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Line Props, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present inventionrelates to improvements in props for clothes lines,the object being to provide a prop which when engaging with the linecannot he accidentally displaced, but which at the same time may bedrawn upon the line to a desired position for stretching the line.

The invention further consists in the novel construction, combinationand arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification andfalling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my improvedprop in applied position upon a clothes line, and Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail perspective viewof the upper or engaging portion of the prop. I

Referringnow to the drawing in detail, 1 designates a clothes line whichis supported upon suitable posts and which is adapted to be stretched bymy improved prop 2. The prop 2 comprises an ordinary pole 3 which is ofa length greater than the height of the line 1 from the ground. The propmay have its lower end pointed so that the same will readily enter theground, and its opposite end is provided with a pair of oppositelydisposed upwardly curved arms 3 and 4: which terminate in downturnedhooks 5 and 6. In the showing of the drawings, these arms and hooks areformed from a single strip of wire, the same being centrally passedthrough an opening 5' in the post and its strands assing through theopening looped aroun the post, as indicated by the numerals 6.

In arranging the device upon a clothes line, the hook of one of thecurved arms is first brought into engagement with the line.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Serial No. 793,242.

The portion of the post projecting between the arms is forced intoengagement with the line to bring its second arm upon the line. The postis then elevated at its base and forced within the ground. The arms arearranged upon one of the faces of the post,

while the second or opposite face of the post is contacted by the line.Thus it will be noted that a binding effect is produced between the armsand the prop, so that the said prop cannot be rotated by contact of thewind with the clothes upon the line.

When the prop is lifted out of the ground to permit of the line becomingtaut, the prop may be slid, without removing the same from the line, toany desired osition upon the line, as will be readily un erstood.

The prop 2 is preferably provided with a notch 7 which is arrangedlongitudinally of the hooks 5 and 6 and which opens to the rear of thesaid hooked ends 5 and 6 of the curved arms 3 and 4, and the said hooksare adapted when engaging the clothes line, to force the said line intothe notch 7 which will effectively prevent the pole from becomingaccidentally loosened from the line.

Having thus described the invention. what I claim is: I

A clothes prop including a post having one of its faces adjacent one ofits ends provided with a transverse notch, the said post having anopening disposed below the notch and arranged centrally of the post andat an angle to the notch, a resilient wire passed through the openingand wound around the post and extended laterally in opposite directionsover the face of the post op osite that provided with the notch to provie up wardly curved arms, and the said arms having their ends bentoutwardly of the post away from the notch to provide hooks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. SMITH. Witnesses:

EBEN SHUGHART, L. AsHroRo.

Washington, D. G."

